Are Phospholipids and Cholesterol the Same?

[AllenHe]

Homework Statement

Are phospholipids cholesterol?Because in one book it says that ' cholesterol molecules, like phospholipids'. I am a little bit confused.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Borek]

Cholesterol is cholesterol, phospholipids are phospholipids. They have some similar properties, which is probably what the book aims at.

 

[AllenHe]

Thanks,and are there any lipids apart from phospholipids?
And why does the cholesterol fit between the phospholipids molecules? Is it because they have similar properties?

 

[Serac]

Thanks,and are there any lipids apart from phospholipids?
And why does the cholesterol fit between the phospholipids molecules? Is it because they have similar properties?

Do you mean why does bind within the bilayer, or why is it necessary for it to be there? You have to be a tad more specific.

There are many types of lipid present in the cell membrane, most of these are glycolipids: sugars attached to a lipid molecule (often the phospho-lipid bilayer but not exclusively).

 

[AllenHe]

I want to know why does bind within the player.

 

[nobahar]

What are the properties of phospholipds that mean they form a bilayer? Does cholesterol have these properties? I think if you answer these questions you'll have your answer. However, cholesterol also has some special properties of its own.